Oral History Videos

Norman Ikari
Interview Length: 2:05

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:
Unfortunately, in this case, it had not been defended.  But there was movement in the woods behind it.  So there was a flanking movement.  And we sprayed the woods just to drive  'em out.  We had other squads and platoons come in from the sides.  And I believe that was about the only time I really pulled the trigger on the M-1.  There were other times when I came close, but...  And so, combat from day to day you know, was pretty much like this.

The worst part of course was the shelling from the German .88s.  I recall the first time I ever heard one of those things come in.  You hear this sort of instantaneous scream of a shell, high whistling scream.  And then in a fraction of a second it explodes.  And all you hope is that it doesn't explode near you.  But these are the famous German .88s that you probably heard of, heard about.  And to be caught in an 88 barrage is a fearful frightening thing.  Saw some pretty close hits, my company.  And of course the farther down you're dug in the better you are.  Of course this won't protect you if you get a direct hit because guys have been killed without any shrapnel wounds or anything like that.  Just got killed from the close concussion of the explosion of the 88 shell near their foxhole.  So, this is the way it went for frontline men, day to day.